Tuckerton officer and police dog placed on leave pending hearing

6:55 PM,
Apr. 12, 2014

Tuckerton Cpl. Justin Cherry, seen in this 2008 file photo with his dog, Gunner, is charged with official misconduct, accused of allowing his K-9 to attack a woman he tried to pull over in a motor vehicle stop.

Written by

Margaret F. Bonafide | @mfbonafide

A Tuckerton police officer allowed his police dog to attack and bite a woman he had followed her for several miles into Barnegat after she failed to pull over during a motor vehicle stop, and then tried to cover up the police report about the incident, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.

Cpl. Justin Cherry, 31, has been charged with second-degree official misconduct and aggravated assault, a third-degree crime. He surrendered in the presence of his attorney, Robert W. Rosenberg, on Wednesday, Coronato said.